Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
Mark Lyons is headed to Arizona.
The Xavier transfer picked the Pac-12 school over Kentucky and Kansas in part because of his relationship with head coach Sean Miller, who recruited him while Miller was at Xavier.
A 6-foot-1, 188-pound junior from Schenectady, N.Y., who averaged 15.5 points and 3.4 rebounds last season, Lyons will be eligible right away.
“It was a lot of things,” he told SNY.tv by phone. “The program. I’ve known these guys since I was a junior or sophomore in high school. I have a great relationship with them.”
Arizona will add Lyons to one of the best recruiting classes in the nation that includes bigs Kaleb Tarczewski, Brandon Ashley and Grant Jerrett and guard Gabe York. Lyons also has a relationship with New York wing Kevin Parrom, whom Lyons hosted on Parrom’s visit to Xavier.
“The guys they got coming in, they welcomed me with open arms,” Lyons said. “Everything about this place is right for me.”
Arizona recently lost freshman point guard Josiah Turner to SMU (one year after Lamont “Momo” Jones transferred to Iona), and rising sophomore Nick Johnson is a natural two guard.
And Lyons is looking forward to playing some point for the Wildcats.
“He told I’m going to play point guard, that’s my natural position,” Lyons said of Miller.
“I’m looking forward to doing it. I haven’t done it that much in the past three years. I’m really looking forward to having this opportunity.”
Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
Mark Lyons is headed to Arizona.
The Xavier transfer picked the Pac-12 school over Kentucky and Kansas in part because of his relationship with head coach Sean Miller, who recruited him while Miller was at Xavier.
A 6-foot-1, 188-pound junior from Schenectady, N.Y., who averaged 15.5 points and 3.4 rebounds last season, Lyons will be eligible right away.
“It was a lot of things,” he told SNY.tv by phone. “The program. I’ve known these guys since I was a junior or sophomore in high school. I have a great relationship with them.”
Arizona will add Lyons to one of the best recruiting classes in the nation that includes bigs Kaleb Tarczewski, Brandon Ashley and Grant Jerrett and guard Gabe York. Lyons also has a relationship with New York wing Kevin Parrom, whom Lyons hosted on Parrom’s visit to Xavier.
“The guys they got coming in, they welcomed me with open arms,” Lyons said. “Everything about this place is right for me.”
Arizona recently lost freshman point guard Josiah Turner to SMU (one year after Lamont “Momo” Jones transferred to Iona), and rising sophomore Nick Johnson is a natural two guard.
And Lyons is looking forward to playing some point for the Wildcats.
“He told I’m going to play point guard, that’s my natural position,” Lyons said of Miller.
“I’m looking forward to doing it. I haven’t done it that much in the past three years. I’m really looking forward to having this opportunity.”
